Design Portfolio

Design Portfolio M a r y a m To o s s i

Maryam Toossi

Professional Experience

Featured

maryamtoossi@ucla.edu (213) 477 5720

Shop Assistant & Lab Assistant

A+D Museum, Los Angeles

5750 W Centinela Ave Apt 225 Los Angeles, CA 90045

University of California, Los Angeles August 2018-Present + + + +

Instructed and supervised students on using the available fabrication tools listed above Supervised and assisted students to achieve the best fabrication strategies for project development Assisted students in learning software such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and Adobe After Effects Resolved technical issues and explored internal and external fabrication options for UCLA M.Arch II projects

Junior Architect

Exhibited GRID(un)LOCK: Sunset 2050 by Hodgetts and Nowak Suprastudio 2017-18 June 2018- August 2018

Achievements and Honors UCLA invention project

Arxe Co.op

April 2016-June 2017

Prosthetics 3.0 course

+ + + +

Instructed by Marta Nowak, a group of seven worked on this project sponsored by RedBull.

March-July 2018

Participated in conceptual design and design development of various projects Collaborated in developing architectural drawings using Autodesk Revit Provided 3D-models of stage one design using Rhinoceros Consulted co-workers to find proper approaches for a green design

Autodesk Revit Instructor

4th place at NLAI Bridge

P.N. Consulting

October-December 2015 + Assisted design team members with learning Autodesk Revit + Introduced Autodesk Revit workflow collaboration and assisted the office to run a test project using it

Design Competition Held by Tehran Beautification Organization March 2015

Intern Architect

Naghsh-e-Jahan Architects June-September 2013

Educational Background

Educational Experiences

Software Skills

University of California, Los Angeles

Attending Nexorade Workshop

2017-2018

November 2016

University of Tehran, Iran

Attending Hinge Paneling Workshop

Rhino, Grasshopper, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk AutoCAD, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects

2011-2014

November 2015

Master of Architecture II

Master of Architecture in Architecture and Energy

University of Tehran, Iran

Bachelor of Architecture in Architectural Engineering 2006-2011

University of Tehran

University of Tehran

Fabrication Skills CNC milling machine, 3D printers, wood shop tools, etc.

The PROSTHETICS SEMINAR establishes prosthetics as devices that not only recover basic human functions, but transcend and go beyond basic human abilities. After engaging in expanding body functions such as vision and hearing, to establishing them as interfaces between the Body and the Architectural space, the third edition of the prosthetics seminar taverses into the territory of interfaces between the Body and the Virtual Space, namely the input device of the Game Controller.

The game controller as a prosthetic requires developing through an interdisciplinary approach.

The Prosthetics Seminar 3.0 collaborated with Red Bull E-sports to design a custom made controller for its athlete Darryl S. Lewis A.K.A Snake Eyez, a professional champion of the game Street Fighter.

A Whole New Ball Game UCLA M.ARCH SUPRASTUDIO PROSTHETICS SEMINAR | FALL 2017

Industry Partner | E-sports Performance Instructor | Marta Nowak Designers | Maryam Toossi Sweta Elizabeth Joseph 3

ANALYSIS | Zoning Of Active Areas Model Prototype

Analysis| Motion Mapping Areas Of Activity And Inactivity

A Whole New Ball Game 4

FORM GENERATION| New Activity Zones On The Sphere

PROCESS |3D-scan of simulated game play on a scaled-down clay sphere

FORM GENERATION | Creating the 3D mesh

Inspired by Snake Eyez' idea of a globe shaped controller, this prototype remaps areas of activity and inactivity ranging from a positive undulations for areas of grab to negative ones for areas of ventilation, all onto an ergonomic sphere that permits six degrees of freedom in movement that mitigates repetitive strain injury.

A Whole New Ball Game 5

FORM GENERATION | Forming the final Model

A Whole New Ball Game 6

An amalgamation of the students collective research and controller design ideas metamorphosized into one single Super Controller.

It encompasses features from individual prototypes tested by Snake Eyez and incorporates his personal preferences.

+ A Super Controller UCLA M.ARCH SUPRASTUDIO INDEPENDENT STUDY | Spring 2018 Industry Partner | E-sports Performance Instructor | Marta Nowak Designers | Jiahe Chen Maryam Toossi Miao He Publication | Maryam Toossi Prajwal Prabhudeva Sweta Elizabeth Joseph 7

6.0 Silicon fill the D-pad button

6.0 Silicon fill the D-pad button

8.8 8.0

8.8 Back button 8.0 button Option Share button

Back button Option button Share button

30.0 23.8

30.0

23.8 Fake button

23.8

23.8

23.8

23.8

23.8

23.8

Triple punch

Triple kick Triple kick

8.4 8.4

40.0

8.4

8.4

Ø5.0

Fake button

DESIGN | Side Elevation

40.0

Triple punch

Heavy puch Medium punch Light punch

Heavy kick Medium kick Light kick

Ø5.0

Heavy kick Medium kick Light kick

Heavy puch Medium punch Light punch

Ø12.0

Ø12.0

For output wire For output wire

6.0 Silicon fill the D-pad button Back button

8.8 8.0

Option button Share button

6.0 Silicon fill the D-pad button Back button

8.8

DESIGN | Front Elevation

8.0

Option button Share button

23.8

23.8

Triple punch

Triple kick

8.4

8.4

DESIGN | Final Prototype

For output wire

DESIGN | Plan

DESIGN | Rear Elevation A Super Controller 8 23.8

FABRICATION | Final Prototype

Handing Snake Eyez a functional optimized game controller was the final step. For that, through communicating with a professional electronics company, we developed the proper detailing and embedded required details. 3D-printing the model with SLS technique, and adding the interior board of a Hori fighting stick mini, silicon and tactile buttons, screws and inserts, the controller was made.

DESIGN | Exploded Axonometric A Super Controller 9

A one-week-long workshop created and opportunity to get introduced and experiment with hinge paneling technique, using different patterns and materials. Each cut-pattern on a solid board turned it to a uniquely flexible surface.

With every difference in shapes or sizes of cuts and materials, we could observe a new behavior. Putting aside the common pattern of parallel dash lines, my group members and I investigated for cut-patterns that would make bending possible in any direction.

The first two-day-long exercise was focused on testing and developing hinge patterns on museum board to create a creative prototype.

Parallel Hinge Bends in one direction

Vs.

Hinge Paneling Workshop

1

CEAT | Center of Excellence in Architectural Technology University of Tehran Fabrication Workshop | October 2016

Spiral Hinge Bends in multiple directions

Group Members | Javad Alahgholi Fatemeh Karegar Maryam Toossi Industry Partner | FabLab.ir 10

Integrated spirals was an answer to the question of multi-directional flexibility.

Rectangular or triangular mesh, spiral radios and turning rounds, etc. on a museum board created significantly different behaviors. Finding an outline for an sleeve (as a sample piece of a cloth), and an optimized cut-patterns gave us a fabric-like behavior. It could, at the same time, role and fit around the arm, and allow shoulder and elbow to bend. Imagine a cloth made out of museum boards and by a laser-cutter!

DESIGN | Pattern Execution

DESIGN | Final Pattern

DESIGN | Tested Patterns HingePanelingWorkshop 11

In the second part of this one-week-long workshop, we focused on prototype with architectural application out of plywood.

Trial and error of different cut patterns on the new material guided us to create a prototype for building facade. By that, this design targeted not only, creating a double-curved surface; but also, a kinetic mechanism that can turn into an responsive facade.

Hinge Paneling Workshop

2

CEAT | Center of Excellence in Architectural Technology University of Tehran Fabrication Workshop | October 2016

How to create a curve folding surface from plywood?

Group Members | Javad Alahgholi Fatemeh Karegar Maryam Toossi Industry Partner | FabLab.ir HingePanelingWorkshop 12

FABRICATION | Final Detailing 5

A mix of diverse cuts in the pattern created a nonlinear motion, and a curved folding surface. Putting 4 of the same shape together and connecting them by a angulated scissors structure displayed a harmonized motion that would open and close from the center.

1 2

3

Toggle bolts connection to the plate

Final Cut Patterns 6

4

Custom-built wheel in the wooden rails

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Main frame Rails Angulated scissor Toggle bolts Wooden plate Custom-built wheels

Test Cut Patterns DESIGN | Exploded Axonometric HingePanelingWorkshop 13

Routing from the BMW I Inside Future Sculpture that was created at the BMW Designworks studios, where new interactions were created between the passenger and the vehicle, the Auto Environments technology seminar sought to envision a new dynamic to everyday transit. Set in a future where autonomous driving has become a reality, the car as we know it ceases to exist. Sans driver, sans seatbelt, sans the hours of wasted commute time, the cars of tomorrow can be completely reconfigured to accommodate additional programs that seamlessly transpire into your transit time.

SHOP.lyft UCLA M.ARCH SUPRASTUDIO TECH SEMINAR | WINTER 2018

Industry Partner | Instructor | Marta Nowak Group Members| Karan Pashine, Maryam Toossi, Nikita Kumar, Sweta Elizabeth Jpseph Yibing Wu 14

SEATING

Programming

MODULE

DOORWAY

CHANGING AREA

MIRROR

SEATING MODULE

X/2

MODULE

11 ft

SHOP.lyft is a concept vehicle that merges the infinite options and flexibility of e-commerce with the tangibility and integrity of brick and mortar stores, while on the go. Constructed around a systematic series of diagramming that builds on the act of ‘trial’ in the shopping experience and a subsequent generation of spatial program defines this car prototype. Engaging with the city landscape champions the asset of mobility that wheels could bring to the future of retail

X

MODULE

CHANGING AREA DOORWAY

MODULE

MIRROR

9 ft.

DESIGN | Sectional Programming

DESIGN | Plan Programming

SHOP.lyft 15

A Flexible surface was our answer to the need for different interior modes in one room, from an ordinary car to sit in and watch outside to a changing room with mirrors. The responsive triangulated surface changes the space shape and specifications.

The Story

Arrival in compact state.

Storages

Expansion for trial, room for changing

Need a ride to the party tonight?

“ you’re on the go shopping service.”

“Sit back, relax, while we bring to your very own world of style.”

Nah, I already got mine.

“Welcome aboard Shoplyft,”

Reflective Surface

Expansion during trial, mirror appears.

Transparent Surface

Transparency post trial, for showcase.

DESIGN | Space Programming and Design Development

Responsive Surface

“Kindly stow your personal belongings away.”

“With real time projection display, for infinite options.”

“Obsolete gas stations become your new fulfillment centers”

“ Make shopping your cardio.”

“All in the comfort of you’re own vehicle.”

The responsive and flexible space allows a diverse user experience. An interactive surface enclosing the interior space creates an experience of fast and easy trying on clothes, comparing and choosing them, also communication with outside and opening up to the city.

Other features like a treadmill with different surface qualities for trying on shoes empowers the experience.

“Not to mention the plethora of possibilities.”

“And arrive at your destination, dressed to kill.”

SHOP.lyft 16

Understanding, practicing and learning nexorade structure was the subject of this five-day-long workshop. Nexorade is a type of space frame structures in which component rely on one another, and therefore, eliminate the need for joint modules. Challenging the common use of these kind of structures, our group tried to generate and solve saddle-shaped surfaces.

Nexorade Workshop CEAT | Center of Excellence in Architectural Technology University of Tehran Fabrication Workshop | October 2016

DESIGN | Form-Finding Process From A 4-Meter-Diameter Base Mesh

Design Group| Javad Alahgholi Fatemeh Karegar Mahshid Moghadasi Maryam Toossi Saba Mirmohammadi Assembly Group | 30 Workshop Members Industry Partner | FabLab.ir 17

Fabricated Of The Saddle-Shaped Structure

A medium scale group project, ended up to the fabrication of a 4m model. This structure was coded, fabricated, crafted and assembled by 30 attendance of the workshop. Each module as an identical one was coded and generated in Rhinoceros and by grasshopper, and get cut and drilled by rottaryCNC. At the end all 30 people worked together to address the modules and assemble the structure.

FABRICATION | Assembly Process

FABRICATION | Producing, Coding And Preparing Of Modules

Nexorade Workshop 18

Main Structures: Deck and Arc

Tensile Elements: Main Cables

Supporting Elements: Secondary Cables

The Humane Bridge A Design Competition

By Tehran Beautification Organization February 2014 - October 2015

Group Members | Fatemeh Karegar Mahnaz Hakami Maryam Toossi The Humane Bridge 19

Parametric Design

Main Arc Structure

Span Height Angle

Structure Parameters

Cables

Starting Spot Ending Spot Number of cables

Deck Parameters

Spiral Ramp Hand rails

Spiral equation Height Slope

The Humane Bridge 20

To connect two sides of Haghani highway for pedestrians; first, we had to figure out a way to make the slope of 25% more gentle. The idea was to create a twisted path supported by the main deck and tensile supports.

With grasshopper, we executed this idea with pure parameters (from the base spiral to the primary and secondary tensile structures). So, the aesthetics and structural specifications could be polished by numbers and parameters.

The Humane Bridge 21

Panorama view of Project Site | I chose a demolished spot in the historical site of Kashan, Iran to propose a new design that preserves the old values, satisfies the new ones, and brings back life to this site.

Courtyards in the center of the buildings to make a micro-climate and pushing them down to use [geothermal] energy used to be main strategies of the historical sustainable architecture of the central parts of Iran with a desert climate. However, the recent industrialized architecture which failed to adopt these valuable concepts started replacing the historical architectures as people’s habitat. This left those valuable architectures vacant and faced them with massive destruction.

A Courtyard for Today

Design of a climate-oriented complex in a Kashan historical site A Graduate Final Thesis Project Presented: August 2014

[Group Information]

Section from the Interior

22

Courtyard: Historical Micro-climate

Under-ground Plan

Ground Flour Plan Upper Level

Putting cross-shape buildings that divide into two L-shape houses in each level, together, create enclosed courtyards.

These courtyards located in two different levels service houses in these two-story buildings. Each big courtyard divides into four and each part belongs to one house.

A Courtyard for Today 23

Patterns for a Two-leve

DESIGN | Arrangement

Vehicle Street Pedestrian Street Entrances

Masterplan

A Courtyard for Today 24

Section C-C Courtyard with Roofs

Adjustable roofs in every courtyard provide more climatic control these micro-climates. The design is included of two roofs in each corner that gave each household control over the two walls of their home that faced the yard and the yard itself. These roofs were made from two radial scissors structures covered with ... that allows airflow and casts a shadow.

A Courtyard for Today 25

This ten-story is a luxury multifamily residential project wide variety of facilities. The is 40*42 meters, very sloped and located on a high point with open view to the city.

The city rules and regulations allowed us to design within 60% north part of the site, 24*42 meters, and would limit the project into a cubic shape; However, the design team Tried to creatively break the solid shape and reached two parallel alternatives which I was participated in developing one of them.

Darband Multi-family Residential Complex Arxe co.op Position | Junior Architect April 2016 - July 2016

Design Team| Javad Alahgholi Maryam Toossi Saeid Hashemi Maryam Toossi Location | Darband District, Tehran, Iran 26

The both alternatives was based on keeping the cubic volume of the building that was limited to its boundaries, then creating an experience in by breaking the shape and subtracting from it in the middle. The idea of second alternative was based on opening the building up in the center by subtracting small cubic volumes from the massive building cube. In lower half, the subtraction extends to the southern facade, and in the upper half, to the northern one. The volume is finalized with carving indentations to gradually transit from southern lower parts of the void, and to the northern upper parts.

Flour 2 Plan

Luxury Apartments Duplex Apartments Labby Parking Swimming Pool Conference Hall Darband Multi-family 27

Suprastudio Hodgetts and Nowak has been working on a masterplan for the Sunset Strip, circa 2050. From tackling the nuances of autonomous technology, courtesy of a ten-week collaboration with Art Center College of Design's graduate students in Transportation Design, to spearheading a new wave of visual billboarding that will propel it to prosperity, the studio speculates on a mobility enhanced urban future, seen here as exhibited at the A+D museum in Los Angeles

Sunset 2050

A Hodgetts studio 2017-18 project UCLA M.ARCH SUPRASTUDIO STUDIO | FALL 2017 - Summer 2018

28

Merchant Values at Westwood Mall

As a practice for developing a creative language to present data about a kind of flow, I focused on money flow and the value per square-foot of main merchants at Westwood Century City mall. The Video showed the additive values of these merchants and how they form their surrounding businesses. In this parametrically growing video diagram generated by Grasshoper software, he volumes of different columns, their total values for one merchant and their color intensity is a representative of dollar value of each business and area as a result.

2017 US Most Profitable Retailers

Larger-scale Retailers

Competing Retailers Sunset 2050 29

Analysis Pedestrian Flow

This diagram made based on parking areas, attractions, and pedestrian visually presents the pedestrian flow within the selected boundary for our urban studio project in Hodgetts and Nowak studio. The number and location of parking spaces and the pattern of behavior around the businesses and within the boundary of our project created the turbulent in different areas.

355,200 FT2 Building Footprint 3512 Parking Spots 1:1 Ratio Requires 1065 Parking Spots Current Ratio is Approx 1:3 Sunset 2050 30

The Icon Park Design partner: Abdullah Alqabandi Maryam Toossi

“There are two types of people in this world, the ones that entertain and the ones that observe.� Britney Spears

The sunset strip historically was a place that propelled that relationship between observer and entertainer; However, in recent years, that relationship has diminished. We believed that is the soul of sunset strip, so proposed to create a new infrastructure on the subset strip that would adopt post-net era culture in which there exists a new type of synchrony between entertainer and observer by utilizing new and future modes of communication.

Sunset 2050 31

Programming and Urban Changes IAC BUILDING

Design partner: Abdullah Alqabandi

MEDIA COMPANY

ANALYSIS | Site Topography

MEL'S DRIVE-IN HISTORIC DINER

HISTORIC

HISTORIC IAC BUILDING FAÇADE BOTANICAL FAÇADE

ROXY THEATER

HISTORIC

NIGHTCLUB

CULTURAL

WHISKEY A A GO GO GO GO WHISKEY

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL BAR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL BAR

OFFICE CLUSTER

MIXED-USE OFFICE TOWERS

CULTURAL CULTURAL

ECONOMIC DESIGN | Topography Manipulation

AKA WEST HOLLYWOOD

LUXURY APARTMENT/HOTEL COMPLEX

MUTATO MUZIKA

ECONOMIC

PRODUCTION COMPANY

THE VIPER ROOM

HISTORIC

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL NIGHTCLUB

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS | Land Evaluation

ANALYSIS| Spotting the significant buildings

Imaging Sunset Strip in 2050, we looked at the current sunset strip and picked the potential architecture that introduces cultural, historic and or architectural values, then removed all non-significant architecture to provide space for series of platforms. We looked at the current steep topography of the hill, and manipulated it by amplifying the steepness of the hill on the east side and flattening and grading it on the west-side. We then split the street into an express route that hugs the north edge of the site, allowing for passing traffic to pass without congestion, and introduced two cruising routes that cut through the park traveling to allow for constant observing, dropping off, and loading.

PROGRAMMING | Express vs Cruising Route

DESIGN | Creation of Plazas

Sunset 2050 32

We took precedence from world expos where the architecture is configured spatially to provide a series of platforms to exhibit and showcase what is hosted in them. Elevated streets by weaving into one another to create a series of islands where architecture takes center-stage. And, A hypertextual layer of video projections streams street activity onto massive inhabited projection surfaces, allowing for observers to become a part of the spectacle. We, then, integrated the streets into the topography, creating the foundation for the new set of platforms to rise. Each of us decided to tackle a separate part of the park and develop it individually.

Master Plan Design partner: Abdullah Alqabandi Maryam Toossi

Nudist Beach

Eccentricity Factory

Roxy theater re-imagines

The Persian Garden

The Forum Wisky a Go Go

The Red Carpet

The Observetory Ferris Wheel

Sunset 2050 33

Traffic Programming

These second to none platforms with urban scale required Traffic programming with multifactorial calculations such as the nature of each program and the form of future transportation.

First, by comparing each program with known programs similar activities, we had an estimate of visitors numbers and peak hours. Then, using the available estimates for a traffic system based on autonomous cars, the required time and space for drop-off and pick-up, number of parkings were achieved. These numbers were used to continue the programming and design with a cleared idea of the location and required space for drop-off zones and parkings.

Analyzer: Maryam Toossi

Sunset 2050 34

I targeted the west end of our site which connects our site to Beverly Hills area.

The design includes two integrated parts that work together, and prepare the visitors to enter the site and begin their adventure. The adventure starts from the Persian garden as a quiet zone which includes different eccentricity memorials components. The central path leads people to the Lotus which prepares the visitors for the exhibition-based Sunset. The multi-functional hub At its heart ties the Persian garden to the underground drop-off, and the eccentricity factory.

Eccentricity Factory

Eccentricity Factory and Cemetery Designer: Maryam Toossi

Billboard Cemetery

Express Route

Sunset in the east

The Tulips

Sunset Strip

Old-self Cemetery

Eccentricity Factory Observetory

The Tulips

Persian Garden Old-Self Memorial Self-Reflection Point Drop-off To the Red Carpet

Cruising Route

Explore Your New Self

The Wall

Eccentricity Cemetery

DESIGN | The Lotus, Cross Section

Sunset 2050 35

Experience of Sunset 2050

The projects of five groups were presented as a whole project in a UV-lit tunnel. It opened a new angle of representation to us vs the common ways of architectural presentation, and challenged us to enter a broad and detailed conversation over UV light, fluorescent paints, materials, print, etc..

Introducing and explaining the ways that fluorescent materials show under UV light to classmates was one of my tasks.

Sunset 2050 36

Publication | The UVrepresentation of the primary drawings Publication | The final UV-print files

Publication | The primary drawings

DESIGN | The Lotus, Cross Section DESIGN | The Factory

DESIGN | The Lotus, Cross Section

In addition to the use of UV spray paints, 3D print filaments, inks, markers, etc., Printing some of the documents with printers having UV-active inks challenged us to change and adjust renders, drawings, plans, and sections considering their representation in UV light.

Sunset 2050 37

Sunset 2050 38

FABRICATION | Test Of The Fixture Type I

FABRICATION | Evolution And Test Of The Fixture Type II

FABRICATION | Crafting and Finishing Of The Model

FABRICATION | Milling Process of The Physical Model

Sunset in the tunnel

The graphics on the tunnel wall were planned to be drawn by a CNCmilling machine to eliminate the costs.

Using fluorescent markers, I created a special fixture that got attached next to the spindle and plotted the G-Code made from the Sunset drawing on 18 sheets of black styrene.

DESIGN | The Lotus, Cross Section

Sunset 2050 39

[Page Title] Beads | Summer 2012

Earing of truncated icosahedron weaved with beads May 2017 Basic Weaved Platonic solids

Cube

After several years of using the basics that I was thought, I wanted to make some changes and put in my taste. Few years ago, I started making changes in their volumes and colors. I made combined and more complicated volumes, used mixed bead-colors, and designed some jewelries.

Dodecahedron Icosahedron

Sunset 2050 41

Dyeing / Batik on Cotton Fabric September 2014

Thank you for your attention!

Maryam Toossi